Raincock History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Raincock family first reached the shores of England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Their name is derived from the short forms of various Germanic personal names containing the element Ragin, meaning counsel. It it thought that the name could also have been derived from Rennes, in Brittany. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print. However, not all of the family joined the Conqueror as seen by the listing of Warenger Raine in Normandy (1180-1195.) [2]CITATION[CLOSE]The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)

Phillipe de Rim or De Remi (c. 1246-1296), was long treated by English authorities as an Anglo-Norman poet, to whom were assigned two romances 'La Manekine' and 'Jehan de Dammartin et Blonde d'Oxford.' "Both show a close knowledge of Scottish and English life and topography in the thirteenth century." [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print

Early Origins of the Raincock family

The surname Raincock was first found in Essex where Roger Rayne was granted lands at Rayne as companion in arms of William the Conqueror. Other early spellings of the name include De Raines and Raneis. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following: Alice Reine in Cambridgeshire; John Reyn and Nicholas Reyn in Lincolnshire; Robert de Rennes in Oxfordshire; and Richard de Rennes. The YorkshirePoll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Robert Rayne; Johannes Rayne; Richard Rayneson; and William Rayne. [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)

Early History of the Raincock family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Raincock research.Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1280 and 1530 are included under the topic Early Raincock History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Raincock Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Raines, Raine, Rayne and others.

Early Notables of the Raincock family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Reynes ( fl. 1530), an English stationer and bookbinder in London, carried on business at the sign of St... Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Raincock Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Raincock family to the New World and Oceana

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Raincock or a variant listed above: Andrew, Roland, and Sarah Rayne, who all came to Virginia in 1635; Francis Raines, who arrived in Barbados in 1657; Robert Raines, who arrived in Barbados in 1679.

The Raincock Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Judicium parium aut leges terraeMotto Translation: The judgement of my peers, or the laws of the land.